Anti-Gay Bigotry Rears Its Ugly Head In Houston Mayoral Race

Houston City Controller Annise Parker (r) stands to become the first openly gay mayor of Houston in her battle against former city attorney Gene Locke. Anti-gay activists and conservative religious groups have been circulating material condemning Parker’s “homosexual behavior.”

Locke, who would become the city’s second black mayor if elected, has been trying to distance himself from the anti-gay attacks while courting conservative voters who could tip the race in his favor.

Although Locke has condemned the divisive rhetoric, two of his key supporters contributed money to a conservative political action committee that sent out an anti-gay mailer earlier this month, urging voters not to pick Parker because she was endorsed by the “gay and lesbian political caucus.”

Campaign finance reports show Ned Holmes, finance chairman of Locke’s campaign, and James Dannenbaum, a member of the campaign’s finance committee, each gave $20,000.

Parkers is leading Locke in the Rice University Poll, 49-36%. Openly gay mayors serve in Portland, OR, Providence, RI, and Cambridge, MA.